Beijing Xiangshan Temple

Beijing Xiangshan Temple

Xiangshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Xiangshan Temple is located within Beijing’s Xiangshan Park and boasts a long history. Historical records indicate that as early as the Tang Dynasty, there were two temples here: Ji’an Temple and Xiangshan Temple. In 1186, the two were merged into one, and Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin Dynasty bestowed upon it the name “Da Yong’an Temple.”

The Xiangshan Temple in Beijing’s Xiangshan Park was rebuilt during the Yuan Dynasty and renamed “Ganlu Temple.” It was reconstructed again during the Ming Dynasty and called “Yong’an Chan Temple.” During the Qing Dynasty under Emperor Qianlong’s reign, it was expanded on the original site, forming a unique temple layout consisting of the Front Street, Middle Temple, and Rear Garden, and was bestowed the imperial name “Da Yong’an Chan Temple,” becoming one of the Twenty-Eight Scenic Spots of Jingyi Garden. Built against the mountain, Xiangshan Temple features a well-arranged, solemn, and magnificent structure, and was once the foremost among the temples of the Western Hills. The temple was burned down by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860 and the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900, leaving only relics such as Zhilehao (Pleasure-Viewing Pool), Tingfa Song (Listening-to-the-Dharma Pine), the royal stele of the Sal Tree, and stone screens.